Posting on Generational Texts
I’ve just put some thoughts down at PostKiwi’s Generational Posts, on U2’s “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for” as a text for the currently 34-43 age group.
At the same time, I’ve written up some material on text at GodPost: Resources for Theological Reflection. As I read through the critics of the Emerging Church movements, I’m coming across bewilderment at the honouring of texts other than Scripture. Whatever happened to Sola Scriptura? And so I’ve written what I’ve written…
Despite the rhetoric of the Reformation, in reality we all make decisions daily on the basis of texts that have little connection with Holy Scripture. We develop our perception of the world around us as we choose and engage with newspapers, magazines, television channels and radio stations. We communicate with one another using an amazing variety of media, including mobile phones and the internet.
What makes some of us nervous is when we realise that we have always been applying our culturally-biased perception of the world to our understanding of God and the world in general. Paying attention to the texts that form and express the values of a generational cohort helps us recognise and discern the impact of those texts. In some cases we will discover perspectives that have been overshadowed by the texts of previous or later generations.
Postkiwi Duncan Macleod posts on life, faith and culture in Australia, drawing from his involvement in the creative industry, the Uniting Church, the blogosphere, generational research, the emerging church and life on the Gold Coast.
Duncan is the editor of The Inspiration Room, a site showcasing advertising, design and other work produced by the global creative community.
